The Girl from Greenwich Street

A Novel of Hamilton, Burr, and America’s First Murder Trial

By: Lauren Willig

Narrated by: Jane Oppenheimer

“This is historical fiction at its best.” --Book Reporter

Based on the true story of a famous trial, this novel is Law and Order: 1800, as Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr investigate the shocking murder of a young woman who everyone—and no one—seemed to know.

At the start of a new century, a shocking murder transfixes Manhattan, forcing bitter rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr to work together to save a man from the gallows.

Just before Christmas 1799, Elma Sands slips out of her Quaker cousin’s boarding house—and doesn’t come home. Has she eloped? Run away? No one knows—until her body appears in the Manhattan Well.

Her family insists they know who killed her. Handbills circulate around the city accusing a carpenter named Levi Weeks of seducing and murdering Elma.

But privately, quietly, Levi’s wealthy brother calls in a special favor….

Aaron Burr’s legal practice can’t finance both his expensive tastes and his ambition to win the 1800 New York elections. To defend Levi Weeks is a double win: a hefty fee plus a chance to grab headlines.

Alexander Hamilton has his own political aspirations; he isn’t going to let Burr monopolize the public’s attention. If Burr is defending Levi Weeks, then Hamilton will too. As the trial and the election draw near, Burr and Hamilton race against time to save a man’s life—and destroy each other.

Part murder mystery, part thriller, part true crime, The Girl From Greenwich Street revisits a dark corner of history—with a surprising twist ending that reveals the true story of the woman at the center of the tale.

“A real triumph! In Lauren Willig’s brilliant retelling of one of the most famous murder trials in American history, she brings to poignant life its most forgotten figure — the high-spirited young woman whose killing was used by the trial’s lawyers, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, for their own political ends. Willig gives us a masterful portrait of the many perils of being a woman in this country’s earliest years.” — Lynne Olsen, New York Times bestselling author of Empress of the Nile

Another excellent story by Lauren Willig

It took me a little bit to get into it, but then I couldn’t put it down.

Love this older true crime

So many interesting and enjoyable parts to this story! As always, Lauren Willig nailed it! Very enjoyable.

Good research

This book is well researched and seems to be the best and most true version of the actual trial.

Fantastic Research

The story was compelling and the author made the facts interesting with background information on all the characters.

Kept me listening!

I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it after the first few chapters, but as the story continued to develop and the case went to court, I couldn’t stop listening! It made me feel like doing more research and review of that time period. Really enjoyed it!